The Santa Monica High boys basketball team began its season with three victories, then lost to Fairfax, 70-57 in the championship game of the Redondo Pacific Shores Tournament on Saturday, December 6.
Fairfax was led by 6-foot-10 center Renardo Sidney, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Sidney, one of the most heavily recruited players in the nation, is from Mississippi but transferred to Arcadia High two years ago, then to Fairfax last season. He is currently a senior.
Samohi won its semi-final game from Serra, 72-57, benefiting from a full-court press that caused 25 turnovers.
Samohi had balanced scoring: guard Jerome Hatchett led with 18 points, center Kunnu Shofu scored 17, Solomon Singer 16 and James Montgomery 15.
In other games involving local boys teams, Crossroads was defeated by Loyola, 91-75, in the Redondo Tournament, New Roads began its season with a 61-50 loss to the host team in the Bishop Diego Tournament and Brentwood played in the Mira Costa Pacific Shores Tournament and lost to Mira Costa, 70-57.
